Disposable inflatable mattress

ABSTRACT

A disposable mattress can be made from a disposable material and can have electroweld seams. The mattress can be formed at least one inch to eight inches in height. An air supply pump can be used to inflate the mattress. The pump can be permanently coupled or removably coupled to the mattress. The pump can be set to periodically re-inflate the mattress, particularly if the mattress has a particular bleed rate of air or other fluid out from the mattress. The pump can actually read the bleed rate and adapt to the bleed rate. The mattress is useful for a number of treatments, including treatment and/or prevention of decubitus ulcers.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/597,075 filed on Nov. 8, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a disposable inflatable mattress made from adisposable material. A disposable inflatable mattress according to anembodiment of the invention is preferably formed from a spunbondedolefin material, for example, Tyvek®, a synthetic material made fromhigh density polyethylene fibers and available from DuPont. Fibrillatedstrands of material such as Tyvek® are known in the art. For example,U.S. Pat. No. 3,081,519 to Blades, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference, discloses a fibrillated strand whichcan be woven. This material can be woven into packaging or othermaterial known as Tyvek®.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a disposable mattress which can be made from adisposable material and which can have electroweld seams. A disposablemattress according to an embodiment of the invention may be intended forsingle-patient or one-time use to eliminate the need for costly cleaningand sterilization of the mattress. The mattress may comprise a mattressbody formed from a spunbonded olefin material, or any other suitabledisposable material. The mattress body can be formed at leastapproximately one inch to eight inches in height. One or more air supplypumps can be used to inflate the mattress. The pump can be permanentlycoupled or removably coupled to the mattress. The pumps can be set toperiodically re-inflate the mattress, particularly if the mattress has aparticular bleed rate of air or other fluid out from the mattress. Thepump may be adapted to read the bleed rate and adapt to the bleed rate.

The invention further relates to a method for preventing or treatingdecubitus ulcers in bedridden patients using a disposable inflatablemattress.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that thedrawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as adefinition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similarelements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a mattress which can be formed as a disposablemattress;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a low air loss disposable mattress according toan embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the low air loss disposable mattressshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the low air loss disposable mattress shown inFIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternating pressure disposable mattressaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the alternating pressure disposablemattress shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of the alternating pressure disposable mattressshown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a disposablemattress which can be coupled to a pump 20. The mattress body 10 can bein the form of a disposable mattress made from any known material.Preferably, mattress body 10 is formed from a spunbonded olefin orsimilar disposable material. An example of a material from whichmattress body 10 may be formed is Tyvek®, a synthetic material made fromhigh density polyethylene fibers and available from DuPont. The mattressmay be any type of mattress. Pump 20 can pump the mattress up to 20 psiand wherein this pump would not exceed a flow of greater than 100 litersper minute.

A disposable inflatable mattress according to an embodiment of theinvention may be used for a variety of treatments. For example, adisposable inflatable mattress according to an embodiment of theinvention may be useful in preventing and/or treating decubitus ulcers,also known as bedsores or pressure sores, which can occur in bedriddenpatients. For example, the mattress pressure may be selectively adjustedto a level for preventing decubitus ulcers from forming or spreading.

FIGS. 2-4 show a low air loss disposable mattress according to anembodiment of the invention. Mattress body 10 of the low air lossdisposable mattress may be formed from a spunbonded olefin material orsimilar disposable material. As shown, low air loss mattress body 10 maycomprise a plurality of cells 30. Each cell 30 may include one or moreopenings or holes 40.

Opening or holes 40 may allow air to escape from an associated cell 30,thereby maintaining a preferred pressure in the disposable inflatablemattress. A manifold or tube 50 may be coupled to mattress body 10 forinflating the individual cells 30 of the mattress body.

FIGS. 5-7 show an alternating pressure disposable mattress according toan embodiment of the invention. Mattress body 10 of the alternatingpressure disposable mattress may be formed from a spunbonded olefinmaterial or similar disposable material. As shown, alternating pressuredisposable mattress body 10 may comprise a plurality of cells 301, 302.The cells may be arranged in a lower layer or row of cells 301 and anupper layer or row of cells 302. Each cell in a particular layer may bespaced apart from an adjacent cell and a cell in the immediately upperor lower layer may be disposed in the space formed between the adjacentcells, as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6. A manifold or tube50 may be coupled to mattress body 10 for inflating the individualcells. Preferably, the cells in a particular layer are in fluidcommunication with one another and a first tube 50 is provided forinflating a first layer of cells 301 and a second tube 50 is providedfor inflating a second layer of cells 302. The adjacent layers of cellsmay be inflated and/or deflated in an alternating manner.

Accordingly, while several embodiments of the present invention havebeen shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes andmodifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A disposable, inflatable mattress for single patient use comprising:a) a disposable mattress body formed from a spunbonded olefin material;and b) a pump coupled to said disposable mattress body for inflatingsaid disposable mattress body.
 2. The disposable, inflatable mattressaccording to claim 1, wherein said disposable mattress body comprises atleast one seam formed by an electronwelding process.
 3. The disposable,inflatable mattress according to claim 1, wherein said disposablemattress body comprises a low air loss mattress body.
 4. The disposable,inflatable mattress according to claim 1, wherein said disposablemattress body comprises an alternating pressure disposable mattressbody.
 5. A method for preventing and treating decubitus ulcers, themethod comprising the steps of: a) providing a disposable mattress bodyformed from a spunbonded olefin material; and b) coupling said mattressbody to a pump for inflating said disposable mattress body.